tleman, "you would say. But you had
better hold your tongue. That is the best use you can make of it."

"Glorious! Capital! Ten thousand thanks for that superb aphorism.
Doctor, you must recollect that for me to-morrow morning, and you must
put it down for me in your best style." He then went on hiccuping and
muttering--"The best use, hic, the best use, hic, I can make of my,
hic, the tongue, hic, hold your tongue, hic, oh doctor hic, I shall
never forget, hic, I hope you will remind me of it, hic, to-morrow
morning."

The old gentleman shook his head and sighed; the tipsy orator
proceeded, and directing his speech to Atherton he managed to say,
with many interruptions, "Young gentleman, you may think yourself
happy in having thus accidentally as it were, for it was all by pure
accident, been introduced to the great Dr. Johnson. And if you need
any advice or direction, you are now at the fountain head of all
practical wisdom. My friend's comprehensive genius takes in all
subjects from the government of empires to the construction of an
apple dumpling. Follow his advice and you cannot do wrong, neglect it
and you cannot do right.--Is not that well said, Doctor?--Rather
tersely put?"

"Go to sleep, Bozzy," said the doctor, "you don't know what you are
talking about, go to sleep."

"But I know what you have been talking about. My ears are always awake
to your wisdom, when all my other senses are asleep. We have had a
glorious day of it, Doctor, you routed them all, they had not a word
to say for themselves."

"I wish it were so with you," replied the Doctor.

"Good again! Put that down;" said Mr. Boswell, and then turning to
Atherton, he continued, "You see how free I am with my illustrious
friend."

"Be quiet, Bozzy," said the doctor again.

"Well, well I may go to sleep contentedly to-night, for I have not
lost a day. I shall record it all to-morrow, and that fine glorious
laugh which you uttered as we came through Temple Bar; I shall never
forget the awful reverberation. There is not a man in Europe whose
laugh can be compared with yours.--I shall never forget it;--pray
remind me of it to-morrow morning,--I shall never, never forget it,
never nev--nev." So saying he fell fast asleep.

* * * * *

We like this portrait-painting turn of the author. Its identity is
very entertaining, and is very superior in interest to the satirical
_nommes_ in the fashionable novels of our day.